Dwight Howard added 18 points and eight rebounds in another
strong defensive effort for Orlando, which held Milwaukee to
39.1 percent shooting.

The Magic (54-18) have won five straight and 12 of their last 14
to stay percentage points ahead of Boston for the Eastern
Conference's second seed.

"We're just trying to find that rhythm that you can stay in,"
Magic point guard Rafer Alston said. "It's all about finding
that groove going into the playoffs."

Ramon Sessions and Charlie Bell had 19 points apiece for the
Bucks, who lost their fourth straight and were dealt another
crushing blow to their already fading playoff hopes. Milwaukee
(31-42) is now four games back of Chicago and Detroit for the
East's final playoff spot with nine games left.

Even with slim chances left to make the playoffs, the Bucks say
they're not losing hope.

"If you start doing that, that's a cowardly way out," Bucks
forward Richard Jefferson said. "To say, 'Oh no, here we go,'
I've never been a part of that in my life and I don't plan on
starting now."

Alston converted a three-point play after being fouled on a
layup by Sessions to cap a 17-6 run that gave the Magic an
11-point lead midway through the third quarter. Desperate to
save their playoff chances, the Bucks wouldn't easily crumble.

Jefferson and Keith Bogans each made 3-pointers to cut Orlando's
lead to six, and Milwaukee appeared ready to make a second-half
run. But the Bucks tired, and the Magic's depth simply took
over.

Marcin Gortat scored Orlando's first six points of the fourth
quarter on a dunk, an alley-oop from J.J. Redick and a layup
after being fouled that put the Magic ahead 88-72. Orlando's
reserve center, not known for his dunking ability, even shocked
his own teammates.

"I'm surprised he jumped," Redick joked. "He's been known to
jump as high as a phone book on dunk attempts."

The strong bench play allowed Magic coach Stan Van Gundy to rest
his starters, clearing the bench midway through the fourth
period. Van Gundy said he has made it a priority to get his
bench players more minutes in the regular-season's final weeks
to gear up for the playoffs but winning still comes first.

"That whole second unit I thought, late third quarter, early
fourth did a great job opening that game up," Van Gundy said.

Coming off a big win over Boston on Wednesday that pushed
Orlando percentage points ahead of the Celtics for the East's
second seed, the Magic were prime for a letdown.

Things certainly looked headed that way early. Orlando came out
flat and played hardly like the team that outmuscled and
outhustled the Celtics. And the Bucks took advantage.

Luke Ridnour, who returned after missing Wednesday's loss at
Toronto with back spasms, hit a 3-pointer during a 6-0 run that
put Milwaukee ahead 26-23 early in the second quarter.

But it wouldn't last, and Orlando started to find its rhythm
with a couple nifty plays before the half.

Turkoglu hit an open jumper after a rare crossover that sent
Luke Mbah a Moute falling, and Redick followed that up with a
smooth reverse layup with his left hand past Jefferson that gave
the Magic a 49-43 halftime lead.

"I don't think about being disappointed or being elated or
anything like that after wins and losses," Bucks coach Scott
Skiles said. "We're trying to remain competitive right now. It's
fairly obvious we're having a hard time doing that."